Mr. Smith,
The technological product I am evaluating for you today is the Ubuntu operating system, a Linux-based free open source software that is an alternative to our current OS of Windows XP. I’m sure you are aware how reliant our law firm has been on the Microsoft products and this is typical in the American business community, as over 80% of business desktops are running some variation of a Windows OS1. However, the trend of business OS purchases towards open source software is growing, with an estimated 25% of all new operating systems adopted in the next 5 years expected to be some form of open source software2
Ubuntu specifically is a user-friendly OS that is very similar to the Windows interface. It comes pre-installed with many of the programs that our administrative staff frequently use, including its own word processing application similar to MS Word, presentation program application similar to MS PowerPoint, and spreadsheet application similar to Microsoft Excel. The Ubuntu Software Center offers thousands of applications that could be utilized by our firm such as internal accounting software or picture editing for our marketing releases, many of which are available for free. However, there are certain applications like TurboTax that really have no proper equivalent in Ubuntu. We could possibly employ a multi-boot utility to run both Ubuntu and a Windows OS, but this would negate any savings from adopting a free open source software like Ubuntu.
There could be significant cost savings from transitioning to Ubuntu, considering our current aging IT infrastructure. Although most of our attorneys and administrative staff are currently running Windows XP, a number of our computers were purchased over 10 years ago and are experiencing less than ideal operating speeds with many of our attorneys and staff members needing to reset their systems after running simultaneous applications. Based on the estimates of several models of desktops and laptops we have considered purchasing, each new computer system would cost approximately $650. About half of our 20 computers should be replaced and we should purchase the Microsoft Office 2013 professional suite at a cost of $400 per license. This would sum to a total cost of $10,500. Transitioning to an Ubuntu system would negate that expense, as our layers and administrative staff would be using the free version of Ubuntu or Ubuntu Desktop for Business for a total of $1,050 per system, along with the free Ubuntu application suite.
On the surface it would seem that we would be saving the firm $9,450. However, there is a hidden cost associated with decline in productivity. Considering that most of our administrative employees, including senior staff, are generally computer savvy, we could assume that they would be able to handle a transition with little to no productivity loss. However, since many of our attorneys are over the age of 55 and very resistant to new technology, even a 1% decline in their productivity would result in a loss for the firm of $31,500 (9 attorneys X 35 billable hours per attorney per week X 50 weeks X $200 average billing rate X 0.01). Our attorneys would not only have to learn a new operating system, but also each new application and how to obtain the necessary applications that are not pre-installed from the software center. Understanding that I have personally seen some of our lawyers waste hours in frustration formatting briefs, I feel that a 1% average loss in productivity is fair.
The Ubuntu OS and its accompanying application suite is a viable alternative to Windows, if it can be transitioned with little production loss. With each new generation of Windows products, we are required to invest additional funds and Ubuntu does provide free updates. I would recommend that on a trial basis we migrate two of our administrative staff’s computers to Ubuntu and determine the practical benefits of its implementation. If little productivity is lost or even gained with the user-friendly interface, we can then at that point measure the merits of a full transition for our administrators.
Thank you for your time.
The technological product I am evaluating for you today is the Ubuntu operating system, a Linux-based free open source software that is an alternative to our current OS of Windows XP. I’m sure you are aware how reliant our law firm has been on the Microsoft products and this is typical in the American business community, as over 80% of business desktops are running some variation of a Windows OS1. However, the trend of business OS purchases towards open source software is growing, with an estimated 25% of all new operating systems adopted in the next 5 years expected to be some form of open source software2
Ubuntu specifically is a user-friendly OS that is very similar to the Windows interface. It comes pre-installed with many of the programs that our administrative staff frequently use, including its own word processing application similar to MS Word, presentation program application similar to MS PowerPoint, and spreadsheet application similar to Microsoft Excel. The Ubuntu Software Center offers thousands of applications that could be utilized by our firm such as internal accounting software or picture editing for our marketing releases, many of which are available for free. However, there are certain applications like TurboTax that really have no proper equivalent in Ubuntu. We could possibly employ a multi-boot utility to run both Ubuntu and a Windows OS, but this would negate any savings from adopting a free open source software like Ubuntu.
There could be significant cost savings from transitioning to Ubuntu, considering our current aging IT infrastructure. Although most of our attorneys and administrative staff are currently running Windows XP, a number of our computers were purchased over 10 years ago and are experiencing less than ideal operating speeds with many of our attorneys and staff members needing to reset their systems after running simultaneous applications. Based on the estimates of several models of desktops and laptops we have considered purchasing, each new computer system would cost approximately $650. About half of our 20 computers should be replaced and we should purchase the Microsoft Office 2013 professional suite at a cost of $400 per license. This would sum to a total cost of $10,500. Transitioning to an Ubuntu system would negate that expense, as our layers and administrative staff would be using the free version of Ubuntu or Ubuntu Desktop for Business for a total of $1,050 per system, along with the free Ubuntu application suite.
On the surface it would seem that we would be saving the firm $9,450. However, there is a hidden cost associated with decline in productivity. Considering that most of our administrative employees, including senior staff, are generally computer savvy, we could assume that they would be able to handle a transition with little to no productivity loss. However, since many of our attorneys are over the age of 55 and very resistant to new technology, even a 1% decline in their productivity would result in a loss for the firm of $31,500 (9 attorneys X 35 billable hours per attorney per week X 50 weeks X $200 average billing rate X 0.01). Our attorneys would not only have to learn a new operating system, but also each new application and how to obtain the necessary applications that are not pre-installed from the software center. Understanding that I have personally seen some of our lawyers waste hours in frustration formatting briefs, I feel that a 1% average loss in productivity is fair.
The Ubuntu OS and its accompanying application suite is a viable alternative to Windows, if it can be transitioned with little production loss. With each new generation of Windows products, we are required to invest additional funds and Ubuntu does provide free updates. I would recommend that on a trial basis we migrate two of our administrative staff’s computers to Ubuntu and determine the practical benefits of its implementation. If little productivity is lost or even gained with the user-friendly interface, we can then at that point measure the merits of a full transition for our administrators.
Thank you for your time.
1. http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/vast_majority_big_businesses_still_rocking_windows_xp_claims_browsium
2. www.linxus.comnews/featured-blogs200-libby-clark
2. www.linxus.comnews/featured-blogs200-libby-clark
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